Wringer



March 31, 1942. s. E. scHRoEDER 2,277,785

WRINGER Filed Aug. 4, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 Y muli i lMarch 3l, 1942.

S. E. SCHROEDER WRINGER Filed Aug. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3l, 1942 WBINGER Simon E. Schroeder, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing Company Ripon, Wis., a corporation of Delaware i Application August 4, 1937, Serial No. 157,284

5 Claims. (Cl. 68-263) The invention relates generally to wringers of the type especially adapted for use in connection with household laundry machines, and the general aim of the invention is to provide a Wringer having new and improved features of the construction for protecting the user against injury and for facilitating operative assembly and adjustment of the wringer by the user.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for creating and variably adjusting the operative pressure between the Wringer rolls.

Another object is to provide new and improved means for latching separable frame sections of a Wringer operatively together, which means is releasable by the imposition of a relatively light force upon an operating member conveniently disposed for actuation by the user.

Another object is to provide new and improved means for mechanically disconnecting the drive to the wringer rolls when the safety release mechanism of the wringer is actuated to release the pressure between the wringer rolls.

More specifically stated, another object is to provide in a wringer having relatively movable frame sections supporting cooperating wringer rolls, means for resiliently urging one of said rolls toward a movement limiting position, and means acting on the opposing wringer roll for eilecting a shifting movement thereof into engagement with the resiliently urged roll and against the force imposed thereon to create an operative pressure between the wringer rolls.

Another object specically stated is to provide a new and improved wringer structure embodying an upper frame section pivotally supported on a lower frame section for swinging movement on a horizontal axis to move a wringer roll carried thereby into and out of operative contact with a wringer roll carried by the lower section, and means for securing the frame sections together with the wringer rolls in contact, including interengaging latch means on the upper and lower sections incapable of holding the frame sections together when a separating force is Iapplied to swing the upper section out of its operative position, and means manipulable by the user for holding the latch means in the latching position thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision in a wringer embodying an upper frame section supported by a lower frame section for relative swinging movement on a horizontal axis to control the operative association of wringer rolls carried by said sections, means for driving said rolls including a reversible clutch mechanism having a manually operable clutch shifting member, andV means associated with the clutch shifting member adapted to be extended across the path of relative swinging movement of said frame sections when a roll driving connection is established through said clutch mechanism for moving the clutch shifting member to its neutral position as the frame sections swing relatively out of the position in which the rolls are operatively associated.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view on a reduced scale through a wringer elnbodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the wringer taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a detail of construction of the clutch disengaging mecha-- nism and the view is taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the wringer on a reduced scale, the upper portions of the Wringer frame being broken away to show the internal mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 2 but illustrating another position of the parts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional view showing fragmentarily the structure at the left-hand end of the wringer as illustrated in Fig. l, certain of the parts, however, being in other operative positions.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have s'nwn in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to oe understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The exemplary form of wringer illustrated in the drawings embodies a frame comprised of two relatively shiftable or movable sections, one being a lower frame section indicated generally at l0 (Fig. 1), and the other an upper frame section designated Il. The lower section comprises a, pair of upwardly extending end members or side stiles I2, I3 rigidly secured together in horizontally spaced relation in any suitable manner as by means of relatively heavy, laterally extending feed boards or tables I4 (Figs. 2 and 4). The side stiles I2 and I3 conceal part of the operating mechanism of the wringer, and one stile (in this instance the left-hand stile designated I3) is enlarged to house the roll driving mechanism generally designated I5.

The upper frame section I I is, as shown, in the form of a hollow, inverted, U-shaped sliell having a transverse head portion I6 and depending channel-shaped arms I1 and I8. The upper frame section is dimensioned to extend between the members I2 and I3 with the arms I1, I8 disposed adjacent to the inner faces of the end members, Such means as headed screws I9, extending through the arms I1, I8 into screw threaded engagement with enlarged bosses on the members I2, I3, pivotally support the upper frame section for swinging movement about a horizontal axis. As may be seen in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the arms I1, I8 extend downwardly along the members I2 and I3 to an intermediate point along the length of said members, and the side walls of said members are extended inwardly, as indicated at 2| (Figs. l and 6), to underlie the lower portion of the arms I1, I8, whereby to de- The upper wringer roll 23 is supported by a shaft '3 24 rotatably journaled in bearings 25 which are mounted in the channels of the arms I1, I8 for relative longitudinal sliding movement.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the bearings 25 have horizontally extending ears 26 of substantial length, each arranged to be engaged by an end of a pressure or tensioning spring 21. The opposite ends of the springs bear against at faces appropriately located in the upper section. The springs are tcnsioned to urge the bearings outwardly with respect to the arms I1, I8, and this movement is suitably limited as by means of stop pins 28 carried by the arms I1, I8 for engagement with lugs 28 formed on the bearings 25 in spaced relation t0 the ears 26. The arrangement is preferably such that the lower end faces of the bearings 25 and ears 26 are normally maintained in substantial registry with the end faces of the arms I1, I8, and these faces are preferably formed substantially on an arc, as indicated at 38, having the axis of the pivots I9 as a center.

The faces of the base members I2 and I3, which oppose the arcuate faces 30, are, in part, defined by arcuate plates 3l supported by inwardly extending flanges 32 on the members I2, I3 to underlie the arcuate faces 30. 'I'he lower roller 22 is supported on a shaft 33 journaled in bearings 34 which are mounted in the end meinbers I2, I3 below the plates 3l, the bearings being suitably supported for vertical reciprocatory movement in the end members. In the present instance, this movement is guided by upwardly extending arms 35 engaging recesses provided between downturned flanges 36 (Fig. 6) on the plates 3| and vertical grooves 31 on the flanges 32. Cooperating with this structure is a guide comprising a downwardly extending arm 38 (Fig. 2) on the bearing arranged to extend through an aperture 39 formed in the base of a U-shaped bracket 48 carried by the sides of the end members. The means by which the vertical position of the bearings 34 and of the lower roll 22 is determined will be hereinafter described.

Means is provided for releasably maintaining the frame sections in operative relationship. that is to say, in a position in which the upper section depends from its pivotsl8 with the arms I1, I8 in the same vertical plane as the end members I2, I3 and the rolls 22, 23 in operative engagement. In the present instance, this means embodies an arrangement of impositive latches which are incapable of resisting a force applied to swing the upper frame section about its axis and manipulable means releasable by the application of a relatively light force on the part of the user for maintaining the latches in holding condition. To this end, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, each arm of the upper frame section supports a latch member 4I for longitudinal reciprocatory movement. The latch members 4I are substantially identical and only one need be described.

As shown in Fig. 6, each latch member is in the form of an L-shaped stamping having an elongated arm 42 vertically disposed between the end'of the bearing 25 and the end wall 43 of the arm. Vertical ribs 44 on the end Wall guide the reciprocatory movements of the latch. The short leg 45 of the latch extends horizontally inwardly from the end wall of the arm in overlying and substantially spaced relation to the bearing 25. Extending upwardly from the leg 45 is a pin 46 arranged to project through and be g'uidingly engaged by a portion 41 of a bracket I8 which is rigid with the head. A spring 48 bearing between the leg 45 and the bracket portion 41 exerts a force urging the latch 4I downwardly or outwardly of its associated arm, the extent of this movement being limited by such means as a projection 50 carried by the pin 46 for engagement with the bracket portion 41.

The lower or outer end of the longer leg 42 of the latch terminates in an angular, somewhat rounded nose 5I (Fig. 2) which is engageable with a complementary recess or indentation 52 formed in an underlying portion of the plate 3l. The relationship of this engagement is such that a force, which tends to swing the upper frame section about its horizontal axis, will be effective simultaneously to cam the noses 5I of the latches out of the recesses 52 if the force is ample to overcome the tension exerted by the relatively light springs 49. The latches 4I are, therefore. impositive in action.

To maintain the latches against release. manipulable means is provided which, in the present embodiment, comprises an elongated bar 53 (Fig. 1) supported by the brackets 48 for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the head. The bar is disposed to extend across the upper or free ends of the pins 46, whereby to prevent releasing movement of the latches 4I. Resilient means, such as a spring 54 interposed between the bar 53 and one of the brackets 48, exerts a thrust on the bar to urge it toward what may be termed a normal position in which the latches are held. As best seen in Fig. 4, the bar 53, adjacent to the parts thereof engaged by the upper ends of the pins 46, is provided With elongated apertures 55 disposed and dimensioned to clear the upper ends of the pins 46 upon reciprocatory movement of the bar out of its norma] position, thereby releasing the latches 4I from the holding effect of the bar.

The unlatching movement of the bar is effected by means conveniently disposed for actuation by the user of the wringer. Thus, intermediate portions of the sides of the head have elongated, longitudinally extending apertures 56 therein through which project elongated members 51. End flanges 58 on the members engage the head adjacent the apertures and limit outward movement of the members. Centrally, each member has an inwardly extending boss 59 to which one end of a bell crank lever 60 is pivotally secured as at 6I. Each bell crank lever is pivotally supported by a stud 62 depending from the head and the free ends of the bell crank levers extend transversely across the bar 53 and adjacent thereto for engagement with pins 63 carried by the bar.

Inward movement of either member 51 will swing its associated bell crank lever about its pivotal point 62 and move the bar 53 in the direction which disposes the apertures 55 above the latch pins 46. Resilient means, such as a spring 64, exerts a tension for urging the members 51 outwardly of the head. It will be evident that, due to the relatively short movement of the bar 53 and the sliding relationship of the bar across the upper ends of the latch pins 46, the latching mechanism will be released upon the imposition of a relatively light force by the user on the leverage system controlled by either member 51.

It may be desirable to provide means for preventing a. return of the bar 53 to its normal position after the latches have once been released and the upper frame member swung to one side or the other of its normal vertical position. As shown in Fig. 4, that end 65 of the bar, toward which the bar moves as it returns to its normal position (the right-hand end of the bar as shown in Fig. 4), is arranged to extend or project into the adjacent end member I2 when the bar is in its normal position. This end may be pointed, or somewhat rounded, for engagement with one or the other of a pair of spaced inturned flanges 66 (which dene the inner face of the member I2) when the bar 53 is retracted and the upper frame section swung in either direction from its operative position, Hence, the bar 53, after it has been moved to release the latches, is held against return to its normal latch holding position, except when the frame sections are approximately in vertical alinement. To prevent excessive swinging movement of the upper frame section, a pin 61 (Fig. 6) carried by one end of the head, adjacent to the pivot stud I9, extends therefrom into a position for engagement with fixed parts of one of the end members (in this instance the end member I3).

When the upper and lower frame sections are operatively latched together, vertical movement of the lower roll 22 upwardly against the upper roll 23 will shift the upper bearings 25 away from the pins 28 against the tension of the springs 21. The extent to which the lower bearings are shifted will determine the extent of tensioning of the springs and thus the operative pressure imposed on the wringer rolls. Improved means is provided for conveniently effecting an adjustment of the lower roll vertically, and this means is preferably operable to shift the lower roll bearings from a retracted or lowermost position upwardly by stages to a point of highest elevation, at which point the springs create the greatest pressure between the wringer rolls.

Referring to Figs. l. 2, 5 and 6, this means is illustrated as comprising an elongated rock shaft 68 extending longitudinally between the end members I2 and I3 and journaled in arms 68 fashioned as an intermediate integral part of the U-shaped brackets 4U. The rock shaft extends at one end through the end member I2 and has affixed thereto a manipulating lever 10. The rock shaft carries a pair of spaced cams `1I arranged one below each of the downwardly extending arms 38 on the bearings 34. The bearings rest upon the cams and each cam is provided with a rising cam surface. Herein, cams having three elevations of rise are illustrated, a'stop 12 being preferably formed thereon adjacent to the lowest points. Fig. 2 illustrates the positions assumed by the parts with the lowest points on the cams supporting the lower bearings. As the rock shaft is moved counterclockwise, the cams are successively rotated to engage the bearings with intermediate points of elevation on the cams and nally with the highest points of elevation. The last mentioned position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 5, and it will be seen that the upward shifting movement of the lower bearing has resulted in an upward shifting movement of the upper bearing against the tension of the springs 21. This tension, of course, increases as the lower bearings are elevated and the illustrated arrangement of cams will, therefore, permit a three-stage selection of operative pressure.

` It is preferred that the cams be returned to a position in which the lowermost point of elevation thereon is in opposition to the lower bearings whenever the latch relationship ofthe frame sections is interrupted to relieve the pressure between the wrlnger rolls. For this purpose, a torsional force is imposed on the rock shaft 68 in a direction which tends to return said shaft to position the lowermost points on the cams in engagement with the bearings. A coil spring 13 (Fig. l) surrounding the rock shaft and secured to one of the cams and to the end member I2 is suitable. By this arrangement, the lower roller 22 will be returned to its lowermost position upon swinging movement of the upper \frame section, and the frame sections may subsequently be easily reassembled without further manipulation of the roll tensioning means.

According to the present invention, means is provided for mechanically interrupting the drive to the wringer rolls whenever the latching mechanism is manipulated to release the upper wringer roll for swinging movement in either direction. The driving mechanism I5 is of more or less conventional form and, as shown, embodies a power shaft 14 arranged to be connected with a suitable source of power, such as the wringer drive shaft of a household washing machine. Reversing gears 15 rotatable on the shaft 14 mesh with the take-off gear 16, which is connected through a universal driving connection 11 with the lower wringer roll shaft 33. The reversing gears may be selectively connected with the power shaft 14 by means of a shiftable clutch element 18 rotatably xed on the shaft. A wall of the end member I3 provides a bearing for a horizontal control shaft 13 which is manipulable by a hand lever 80. The control shaft carries an eccentric 8l in engagement with the clutch for shifting the clutch from a neutral position (Fig. l) to one or another of its positions of driving engagement with the gears 15 (see Fig. 6).

The eccentric 8| is mounted on a disk 82 1ocated in slightly spaced relation to the adjacent wall of the end member I3. Extending from the disk toward said wall is a pair of short studs 83 positioned eccentrically of the disk in such manner that the studs are horizontally alined (see Fig. 3) below the axis of the disk when 'the control shaft and clutch are in the neutral positions thereof.

shaft 19 to rest upon the studs 83. The plate,

84 is, as shown in Fig. 6, arcuate to dispose the upper end thereof in substantially a horizontal plane. This end extends through an aperture 85 in the inner vertical wall of the end member and terminates in a somewhat rounded nose 81 (Fig. 4). The parts are so arranged and dimensioned that, upon rotation of the control shaft 19 in either direction to establish one or the other of the driving connections, the engagement between one of the studs 83 and its associated arm 85 ofthe plate will force the plate upwardly to extend the nose 81 from its neutral position, as shown in Fig. 1, across the path of swinging movement of the upper frame section, as shown in Fig. 6.

Lateral flanges 88 (which may be the end wall of the arm I8), carried by the upper frame section in spaced relation on each horizontal side of the nose, are arranged to engage the nose upon swinging movement of the upper frame section in either direction out of its operative position. This engagement is effective to cam the plate 84 inwardly and downwardly of the end member I3 and thereby rotate the control shaft 19 to shift the clutch element 18 to its neutral position. The movements of the plate 84 may be suitably guided, as by ilanges 89 on the wall of the end member I3 above the control shaft. A stop 90, carried by the plate, is positioned to engage a margin of the aperture 86 to limit the extended position of the plate through said aperture.

If desired, means may be provided for preventing unintended disengagement by the plate 84 of an established driving connection. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, such means, in this instance, comprises a plate 9| having an upper flat edge arranged to underlie the studs 83. The plate is supported for vertical movement by guides 92 on the adjacent wall of the end member I3. The plate has a downwardly extending leg 93 and an encircling spring 94 is interposed between the plate and the bottom Wall 95 of the end member I3 to exert a relatively light upward force on the plate. When the disk 82 is rotated in either direction, during establishment of a driving connection, movement of one or the other of the studs 83 depresses -the plate 9I, while elevating the clutch shifting plate 84. The stud 83, which depresses the plate 9| when a driving connection is established, is located slightly past center with reference to the vertical plane of the control shaft axis. The upward force of the spring 94, therefore, tends to hold the clutch control shaft and the clutch in either position of driving engagement until a positive force is exerted to return the parts to their neutral positions.

In considering the operation of the present device, it will be presumed that the roll driving mechanism I is in its neutral position; that the upper frame section is out of alinement with the lower frame section, and that the wringer rolls are not in operative engagement. Under these conditions, the plate 84 of the mechanical clutch shifting mechanism is in its retracted position, the lower bearings 34 are resting upon the lowest points of elevation of the shifting cams 1I, and the latches 4I are free to move, since the latch holding bar 53 is held in its retracted position.

To condition the wringer for operation, the

user first swings the upper frame section into vertical alinement with the lower frame section. During this movement, the latch members 4I are cammed upwardly after they move across the plates 3| until they engage the recesses 52. In this position, the latch holding bar 53 is free to return to its neutral position, in which it holds the latch members against releasing movement. The wringer rolls are now under a relatively light operative pressure. If the user requires additional pressure, the lower bearings are elevated by manipulation of the lever 10. A desired driving connection may then be established by movement of the clutch control lever in one direction or the other, which movement extends the nose of the plate 84 across the path of swinging movement of the upper I'frame section.

Should the user, as m the case of an emergency, wish to release trie operative pressure between the wringer roi'is, it is only necessary to exert a slight inward" force on either one of the members 51. This, movement reciprocates the latch holding bar 53 to release the latches. A force applied to swing the upper frame section in either direction from its operative position will cam the latches 4I out of their interengagement with the lower frame section. Should the wringer rolls be in operation at the time the bar 53 moves to release the latches, the rotative movement of the rolls will effect the swinging movement of the upper frame section. As the wringer rolls move out of engagement, the spring 13 on the rock shaft 68 rotates said shaft to permit the lower roll to return to its lowermost position. If the upper frame is unlatched while a driving connection to the wringer rolls is established, the swinging movement of the upper frame section will, through engagement between the upper section and the nose 81 of the plate 84, move the plate to return the clutch mechanism to its neutral position, thus interrupting the drive.

It will be evident from the foregoing that a new and improved wringer structure has been provided which is of relatively simple construction, is efficient in operation, and embodies factors of unusual convenience and complete safety to the user thereof. The safety release mechanism, by which the wringer is rendered completely inoperative, is responsive to a relatively light touch or a thrust by the user against the members 51. Reassembly of the wringer structure into its operative condition is a simple and easily performed process, and the tension on the wringer rolls may be quickly adjusted by movement of a lever.

Cross reference is hereby made to my copending applications Serial No. 54,282, filed December 13, 1935, and Serial No. 327,739, filed April 3, 1940 for reissue of my Patent No. 2,114,404, issued April 19, 1938.

I claim as my invention:

l. A wringer comprising, in combination, a lower frame section. an upper frame section pivotally mounted on said lower section for relative swinging movement on a horizontal axis, an upper wringer roll, slidable bearings in said upper frame section for supporting said upper roll, means for limiting the movement of said bearings toward the lower frame section, resilient means acting on said bearings to urge them yieldably against the limiting means, a lower wringer roll cooperative with said upper roll, lower roll bearings mounted in said lower frame section for movement toward and away from the upper frame section, means for releasably latching the frame sections together with said rolls in cooperative contact, and cam means associated with said lower bearings and having a plurality of cam faces thereon movable selectively into engagement with said lower bearings' to shift the lower bearings variably toward the upper frame section against the force of said resilient means, the resulting pressure between the rolls being effective to hold the bearings engaged with any selected cam faces. v

2. A wringer comprising, in combination, ,a pair of frame sections, a wringer roll supported by one section, spring means for urging said roll toward the opposite section, means for holding said roll against movement in one direction by the force of said spring means, a second wringer roll, bearings for the second roll supported in the` other section for movement substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the spring urged roll, a rock shaft journaled in said other section, means for interrupting the cooperative relation of said rolls, cams carried by said rock shaft for engagement with said bearings, said cams having a plurality of rising surfaces disposed to shift said second roll and its bearings toward the spring iu'ged roll, and means for returning said cams to an initial position in which the low portions thereof are in operative relation to said second roll and its bearings when the cooperative relation of the rolls is interrupted.

3. In a wringer, the combination of upper and lower wringer rolls, releasable means for supporting said rolls in operative contact, springv means acting on the upper roll to urge it toward said lower roll, manipulable means having a plurality of separate elevating means for raising the lowerlv roll from an initial retracted position to engage the upper roll with operating pressure depending upon the extent of elevation selectively obtained by one or another of said elevating means, any selected position of engagement being maintained by the pressure between the wringer rolls, and means for returning the manipulable means to the initial position thereof 'when the roll supporting means is released.

4. In a clothes wringer, a lower frame, an

upper frame releasably attached to the lowerv frame, cooperative wringer rolls, spring means urging said rolls into pressure relationship, roll bearings slidably mounted in the lower frame, a cam shaft rotatably mounted in and extending through the lower frame, fiat-faced cams rigidly secured and rotatable with said shaft and directly supporting the lower roll bearings, and a handle attached to said shaft exteriorly of the frame and operable to release or restore roll pressure.

5. In a clothes wringer, a frame, cooperative wringer rolls, spring means urging said rolls into pressure relationship, roll bearings slidably mounted in the frame, a cam shaft rotatably mounted in and extending through said frame, flat-faced cams rigidly secured and rotatable with said shaft and directly supporting one pair of roll bearings, and a handle attached to said shaft exteriorly of the frame and operable to release or restore roll pressure.

SIL/ION E. SCHROEDER. 

